Elon Musk’s Hyperloop Could Be Going Underwater

One of the companies building Elon Musk’s high-speed transportation system already has the capability to build an underwater version, it claims.

Hyperloop was first proposed by the SpaceX and Tesla boss back in 2012, with Musk encouraging others to take the idea and develop their own versions.

The futuristic mode of transport involves passengers and cargo being ferried along giant vacuum tubes with pressurised pods riding along on cushions of air.

The space-age pods are designed to reach speeds up to around 750mph.

Hyperloop One and Hyperloop Transportation Technologies are the two companies leading the charge, with the former claiming that a sub-aqua Hyperloop could eventually be a reality.

A concept drawing of one of the passenger pods (Hyperloop One)

At this point, the cost of developing an underwater version of the futuristic transport network is too high, Hyperloop One CTO and former SpaceX employee Brogan BamBrogan told Futurism.

“We think we can deliver things people don’t even know they want yet, and that’s going to manifest itself in a lot of ways,” said BamBrogan.

The company is waiting for production to become more cost-effective before developing the idea further.

Image credit: Hyperloop One